posted 10 March 2008

South Africa is planning to organise a series of events in the country and other parts of the world to celebrate former president Nelson Mandela's 90th birth anniversary on July 18.

This was announced at a function in Johannesburg which was attended by Mandela and the senior officials associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Nelson Mandela Childrens' Fund.

Chantal Cuddumbey, a spokesperson for the organising committee, said people all around the globe would have the opportunity to send their personal messages to Mandela through SMS, MMS and via the web.

"We are in the process of negotiating with cellular networks around the world to make this possible," she said. "Online messages will be facilitated through all the Mandela organisation websites, as well as partner websites.

"The major event will be held at Hyde Park in London on 27 June. The annual World Aids Day concert will be held on 29 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Five hundred special edition 90th birthday bangles will be introduced at a special fund raising event in London," said Cuddumbey.

"From March to November, there will be a series of Youth Community Dialogues and essay and art competitions focused on Mandela's leadership and his vision of an African Child.
"The activities will be held in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. Another highlight during the run-up to Mandela's birthday is a visit by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who will deliver the 6th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Soweto, on 12 July. A photographic exhibition of Mandela's life by photographer Alf Khumalo will be held in September and October."

Courtesy: www.hindu.com

March 10th, 2008 by Tess

Will Smith is to host a concert celebrating Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday this summer.

The Hollywood actor and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith have agreed to front the star-studded event in London’s Hyde Park on June 27 after being asked by the iconic former South African leader. As well as recognising the landmark date, the event will raise money for 46664, Mandela’s AIDS charity.

A source said, ‘Will Smith is a big fan of Nelson and wanted to help out. Nelson is so inspirational and so many artists want to be involved. Razorlight, Keane, Queen and Annie Lennox are definites. U2, the Spice Girls and Sir Paul McCartney could join them and Eminem’s up for it too. We think it will be Nelson Mandela’s last international public appearance, which will make it even more special.’

Should Eminem agree to perform it would be his first major concert appearance since his self-imposed retirement in 2005.

The event will be attended by 45,000 music fans, and special guests will include Britain’s Princes William and Harry, former US President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, who is currently running to become the next President.

The first 46664 concert was held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2003. There have since been events in Norway and Spain. The significance of 46664 is that it was Mandela’s inmate number during his imprisonment in apartheid South Africa from 1964 until 1990.

Winehouse to sing at Mandela's Birthday Concert

Jan Westmark - Celebrity News Service

London, England (CNS) - Singer Amy Winehouse has been in the news a lot lately for her troubled life, but now she is making headlines for filing her calendar with important performances. The singer is scheduled to sing at the 46664 Concert celebrating Nelson Mandela.

The concert will be in honour of Mandela's 90th birthday and will take place at London's Hyde Park on June 27. In addition to Winehouse, the line-up of celebrities includes Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox, Dame Shirley Bassey, Razorlight and more than a dozen South African musicians.

It won't be just musicians playing at the party, however. Many power-house celebrities will be in attendance including Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Robert DeNiro and Forest Whitaker.

A Winehouse spokesperson said that the 24-year-old singer is "proud" and "honored" to add her voice to the concert, which seeks to raise awareness about the impact of AIDS and the importance of HIV prevention.

Courtesy: AHN

Shirley Bassey to miss Mandela concert in London
Mon 23 Jun 2008, 12:01 GMT

LONDON, June 23 (Reuters Life!) - Welsh-born singer Shirley Bassey has pulled out of Friday's London concert to celebrate former South African President Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday.

The 71-year-old, best known for her James Bond movie theme songs "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds Are Forever", underwent emergency surgery on her stomach in May. She is hugely disappointed by her doctors' advice not to travel to London from her home in Monaco.

The concert, in London's Hyde Park, is expected to feature acts including Queen, Leona Lewis, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and Razorlight.

Proceeds from the concert will go to the 46664 global campaign against HIV/AIDS, named after Mandela's prison number.

© Reuters 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Send your birthday wishes to Mr Nelson Mandela (aka Madiba) and join people from around the world in celebrating his 90th birthday on July 18th.
Your message will be included in the campaign to make the biggest birthday card ever, and you never know your message might even be up on a big screen at Hyde Park on June 27th!

The campaign hopes to raise much needed funds for Mr Mandela's charities, helping them all continue his legacy - particularly for HIV/AIDS.

You can also make a donation on the site. Your message can be sent via email (on the site) or sent by SMS - number & charges depend on which country you're sending from eg From within South Africa, SMS your birthday message to 46664 (Nelson Mandela's prison number whilst incarcerated at Robben Island) - cost is R20 per SMS.

As a thank you for sending your message, you can get a free video download of the great Queen + Paul Rodgers track "Say It's Not True", specially donated by them for the campaign.

Send your Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela message now ...

http://www.happybirthdaymandela.com/frontHome.seam?conversationId=1270

Stars set for Nelson Mandela's 46664 Concert
Hyde Park, London
Fri 27 June 2008 @ 18h00 BST

Josh Groban
Groban is an ambassador for Nelson Mandela's 46664 charity

Stars including Annie Lennox, Queen and Leona Lewis are set to perform at a concert for Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday in London.

The Soweto Gospel Choir and US singer Josh Groban will also feature at the concert in Hyde Park.

"What better way to celebrate your 90th birthday than to have this great concert - it's going to be a lot of fun," Groban told the BBC News website.
"It's going to be a great combination of the best pop artists today, with some of the best traditional pop music in Africa right now," said Groban.

Courtesy: ukpress.google.com

Watch the 46664 concert live at 18h00 BST http://www.46664.co.uk/index.php